Move to Music

I think dance deserves to be an option all of its own because of the dynamic ways in which it can contribute to us ‘feeling good’, not least because it tends to be done to music. Music is recognised as one of the most effective and accessible ways to arouse an emotional response and regulate emotions. We of course know this from experience, but we can sometimes forget the simple stuff. Wider studies support something else that many of us know to be true… that singing and dancing with others triggers an endorphin release, which increases position emotions to a greater degree than just listening to music. It also helps us bond with others and has been shown to help increase pain thresholds. The strong responses that dancing and singing can elicit in us is likely because they come from somewhere quite primal… from the tribes dancing and chanting around fires through to the modern-day gatherings of thousands of people, experiencing a collective high at a concert or festival... Whilst we can’t do the ‘collective’ thing that often, we can still tap into many of the benefits of this approach. If dancing with others isn’t an option or feels too out of your comfort zone, dancing alone is still shown to have a significant impact on mood (though focus on uplifting tunes versus a solo slow-dance 😉). Tips for practising and personalising. o Combine with positive reminiscence and put on some music from a feel-good time or event in your life and imagine yourself back there, even if just for 1 song on a 5-minute break in the day. o Maybe it’s time for a kitchen disco... o Jump around with children to music. o Don't feel the need to 'dance' if you don't feel you are good at it... just swaying, moving in any way with freedom and spontaneity will allow you to access this practice.